A Remotely Readable, Self-authenticating Tamper Evident Seal Based on Graphene-based Materials and Compressive Sensing

Abstract

Low-cost, high-precision patterning of flexible electrical components have gained special attention in many applications where multi-functional materials fuse structural support with electrical sensing. In particular, a number of structural health monitoring (SHM) applications call for the development of “sensing skin” technologies. One application that uses these technologies includes the development of next-generation tamper-evident seals (TES) that are capable of being read remotely. In our design, the state of the TES’s physical structure is monitored through an electrical circuit based on a conductive material. Electrical changes in the TES’s circuit correspond to material property changes induced by humidity, temperature, or chemical changes. Intrinsically unifying material and electrical properties, graphene and graphite derivatives promote simplistic manufacturing of flexible materials with unique electrical properties that are attractive for sensing skin applications. In addition to developing a functional graphenebased material, an encryption scheme to transmit the state of the material is devised utilizing compressive sensing. Our work focuses on the production of printable graphene-based materials and graphene-based/polymeric composites proficient for sensing environmental changes. Printing of functional complex graphene-based materials requires specific formulation while balancing electrical conductivity, formulation simplicity, solution viscosity, and printing compatibility. Production of electrically stable components on flexible substrates with programmable electrical properties will be key to using printed graphene-based materials in sensing skin applications. doi: 10.12783/SHM2015/269